Share This:

Recycle Your Confidence, Ditch Your Anxiety

What a quote for building success. Sometimes, our inner architect needs to be reminded of this. WE’RE in charge of laying the foundation. We do the work or we do not. As Yoda says, “There is no try.”

Case in point: Preparation was key to becoming an editorial cartoonist; Majoring in Journalism, studying the masters and dedicating thousands of hours developing the skills were crucial. When I started my first job, there were nerve-racking moments, for sure, but there was an inner belief, I could find a groove. Fortunately, that was the case and a successful career blossomed. While it was a pressure cooker, (ulcer-inducing deadlines, angry readers, cancelled subscriptions,) I never felt overwhelmed because I did the homework.

Naturally, if we lose our job, there’s a tendency to beat ourselves up; ‘What did I do wrong?’, ‘Maybe, I’m not good.’ Enter Anxiety. I never had it, didn’t know much about it and yet, when things were supposed to be flying in fifth gear, my car was in reverse and spinning out of control. After my finances crashed, I accepted jobs I was, clearly, not qualified for. Walking into offices and staring at strange software, only decimated the last shred of confidence that remained, creating a vicious circle:

Bills mounted

Jobs were accepted

Errors increased

I’d get fired

Repeat

What’s the first rule of getting out of a hole? Stop digging. Well, when our mind is fogged by depression and anxiety, it can be hard to see the hole for the opening. Back when I was playing competitive tennis, I had a simple strategy: If I was getting torched at the baseline, I’d move to the net. It usually worked. Today, I get involved with projects, that fit my skill set. So recycle the good stuff and toss the trash.

TIP: When you‘re struggling with confidence, recall past achievements and review the steps which were successful. What worked before, can work again.

Scott Nychay was an award-winning editorial cartoonist, who is now drawing attention for mental health issues. He's been diagnosed with clinical depression, anxiety and OCD. Today, he has his own studio and speaks with mental health organizations about using art to manage co-occurring disorders. His clients have included: SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Coalition for the Homeless, DBSA, SAVE and Microsoft.
Nychay attended Drake University, Poynter Institute for Media Studies, and received his B.A. from Columbia College. His work has appeared on CBS, NBC and in USA Today. The recipient of over twenty honors, including first in the nation from the Associated Press Sports Editors and the John Fischetti Finalist Award, will preview his first graphic novel, exclusively at hopetocope.com. Drawing Strength, is the true story of synchronicity, creativity, and recovery. To find out more, please visit: www.nychay.com

SoundOFF!

HEALTHY HABITS

Most of us don’t default to healthy habits. It takes planning and effort, and sometimes a surge of self-discipline, to eat right, exercise, get the sleep we need, and stay on top of work and life tasks. Establishing new habits, let alone purging bad ones, can require major effort, especially if we are also struggling with depression or anxiety. What are some good habits that you've formed and how did you build them?